Re-election Threat Fairly Hollow

February 20, 2006|Marvin Silverman Cooper City

During the last few weeks, I have read the multitude of letters you have published regarding the Broward School Board's decision to start the school year early. A common element in the letters from the readers who are against this decision is that voters will remember those board members who wanted the early start date when Election Day comes.

The board members are experienced politicians who know that their decisions probably won't have much of an impact on the election results. In the 2004 School Board election, only 18.47 percent of Broward's voters participated in the primary. Seniors and the condos represented a large portion of those voters, and many of this year's primary voters may not be aware of what is occurring with the school year start date. If a board member makes the teacher's union happy and secures its support, he or she will receive financial contributions from dozens of union locals throughout the state. That money can be used to do mailings and other efforts to reach the seniors and voters who usually turn out. It is nave for anyone to think that how a board member votes on an issue is directly correlated with election results.

In the last 12 years, only twice have School Board members who did not raise the most money been elected. Consequently, a board member who wants to win may be more concerned about where campaign funds are coming from than your readers telling them their actions will be remembered on Election Day.

If I were the founder of the Save Our Summers organization, I would focus my efforts in setting up a political action committee. I would campaign at the condos, political clubs and other places where regular voters show up. I would pass out literature asking folks to not re-elect board members who are not responsive to the parents.